Spring cap for collapsible tubes



P 1936- w. J. PETERS SPRING CAP FOR GOLLAPSIBLE TUBES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wu cWvT/O L Willi/er UEZIL P126273 Filed 'me 6, 1955 Skim/MM;

April 21, 1936. w PETERS 2,038,057

SPRING CAP FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES Filed June 6, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatentesi UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE gasses: I fl seams one nor: cowarsmm mas Walter John Peters, Suisun City, Calif.

Application June 6, 1935, Serial No. 25,321

4 Claims. (01. 221-60 The object of my invention is to provide novel Fig. 20 is. a bottom plan view of the cap shown spring caps which can be quickly and easily apin Fig. 19; and plied to and removed from collapsible tubes, and Fig. 21 is a detail view of the spring used in which can be manufactured at a small cost. It the cap shown-in Fig. 20.

is also an object of my invention to provide an Like numerals designate like parts in diflerent 6 adapter which can be attached to a collapsible views of the same form of capbu't a difl'erent set tube which has a conventional threaded nozzle of numerals is applied to diiierent forms or the and on which adapter a spring cap may be apinvention.

plied. I attain these and other objects of my in- Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings. vention by the mechanism illustrated in the acthereis illustrated a collapsible tube I having a 10 companying drawings, in whichneck 2 and annular collar 3. The cap I has a Figure l is a perspective view of a simple and chamber 5 having an enlarged mouth 8 and an efiicient form of spring cap, and the tube to which annular inner groove 8 in portion 8 to receive the it is applied; flexible split ring I, which functions as a spring Fig 2 is a vertical section through the same element to engage the collar 3 of the neck 2 of the 15 cap; tube.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tube shown in Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, there is illustrated a Fig. 1; tube 9 having a tapered neck "I and annular Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a slightly collar I l. Cap l2 has a chamber tapered to modified form of cap; correspond with the shape or the neck I0 and 20 Fig. 5' is a side elevation of a tube having a with an enlarged mouth It in which is the annuslightly modified form of cap; lar groove Hi to receive the split ring l5.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional Referring to Figs. 6 to 11, inclusive, there is tube having a screw top with the adapter which illustrated a conventional collapsible tube I'I hav- I have devised ready for application to'it and ing a threaded neck l8. In place of the usual 25 with the spring cap which seats on the adapter threaded cap, I provide an adapter l9 having shown above the adapter but detached from it; an annular knurled portion 2| and having a Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the cap and adapter threaded chamber 20 to engage the threaded neck engaged to each other but removed from the tube; ID, the collapsible dome-like nipple 22 terminat- Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the cap on ing in the neck 23. At the base of the nipple 22 30 the adapter shown in Figs. 6 and '7, but with the is an annular groove 24. Extending through the adapter in side elevation; adapter is a channel 25. I provide a cap 28 hav- Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; ing its chambered portion 29 shaped to correspond Fig. 10 is a vertical section through the cap by with the shape of the nipple 22 and chamber exitself; I tension 30 corresponding with neck 23(and car-'- 35 Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the adapter rying a disc of cork 261:0 seal the discharge chanby itself; nel 25 when the cap is applied. Cap 28 has an Fig. 12 is a bottom plan view of a modified form annular knurled portion 21, preferably at or of my spring cap; near its top, and an annular interior groove 3| Fig. 13 is a view partly in section and partly in in which is seated a suitable splitring 32, as shown elevation of the cap shown in Fig. 12; in Figs. 8 and 10.

Fig. 14 is a side elevation of a tube having a The purpose of this adapter is to permit it to top suitably shaped for the cap shown in Figs. be attached to the type of collapsible tube now in 12 and 13; general use having a threaded neck. On the 5 Fig. 15 is a bottom plan view of a cap having adapter may be placed the spring cap which I a spring of modified shape; have devised, to seal the tube.

Fig. 16 is a view partly in section and partly Referring to Figs. 12 to 14 inclusive, there is in side elevation of the cap shown in Fig. 15; illustrated a collapsible tube 33 which I have Fig. 17 is a detail view of the spring 48 used in devised having a nipple 34 terminating in a cythe cap illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16; lindrical neck 36 and having an annular groove 50 Fig. 18 is aperspective view of a collapsible tube 35 at the base of the nipple. I provide a cap 31 with a modified shape of nozzle for the type of of similar shape interiorly and having a cap shown in Figs. 19 and 20; knurled portion 38, preferably annular and pref- Fig. 19 is a view partly in section and partly in erably disposed at or near the top, to facilitate side elevation of the original form of spring cap; removal of the cap. The cap has a chamber '39 55 corresponding in shape to the nipple 34 and with a cylindrical end chamber 40 corresponding in shape with the neck 38 or the collapsible tube.

The chamber." has an annular groove 4| to re-' ceive the split ring 42. Split ring 42 has-an outwardly offset portion 56 at about the middle oi? the ring and outturned ends 51, which members seat in the annular groove 4| The ends 51 are spaced apart and the construction or the ring is sucl'ras to permit or free movement the ring at its ends, the ring being moulded in the cap or fastened solidly in some manner at the portion 56. The spring is made or piano wire or some similar material that 'will spread out as it passes over the widest-part0! the nipple, the tension or the spring holding the cap .on.- When the cap is on, the spring encircles the nipple at the base.

4 Referring to Figs. 15 to 17 inclusive, there is illustrated a cap 43 for a tube of the type shown in Fig. 14 and having a suitable chamber 41 and end chamber 46 to seat over the nipple 34 and neck 36 of the collapsible tube. The cap has a knurled portion 44 and an annular groove 45 to receive a ring 48 or the type shown in Fig. 1'7. This ring is approximately hexagonal and split at 58.

Referring to Figs. 18-21 inclusive, there is illustrated a modified form of collapsible tube 33a havinga nipple 340 with a mouth 49. I provide a cap 50 having a chamber 52 corresponding in shape with the nipple 34a and with an extension chamber 53 to receive a disc of cork which functions as a sealing element. Cap 50 has a knurled portion BI and its chamber 52 has an annular groove 54 to receive the split ring 'As' shown in Figs. 20 and 21, this split ring has an offset portion 58 which functions to prevent removal 01' the cap from the nipple in any way other than a straight pull.

It will be noted that in each form the chambered portion of the cap corresponds substan-' tially in shape with the shape of the exterior portion oi. the nipple or neck of the collapsible tube to which it is applied, and that. in each instance there is an annular grooved portion of the collapsible tube (or in the caseot Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive of the adapter) to be" engaged by the split ring which is mounted he annular groove within the cap. This construction makes it possible to apply the cap by merely pushing it onto the nipple or neck of the collapsible tube. or to remove it by merely giving a straight pull on the cap. The split ring mounted in the groove of the cap is made oi. piano wire or some material sufflciently flexibleto spread out as a passage over the widest part oi the nipple, and the tension of the spring encircling the recessed portion below the nipple or collar or grooved neck of the tube resiliently fastens the cap to the collapsible tube. The cap can be placed on the top with one hand by merely resting the cap with the open end facing up on any flat surface and pushing the nipple or the tube down into the cap, which will then snap into place on the neck of the collapsible tube (or in case or the tom of the invention shown in Figs. 6 to 11*,onto the nipple oi the adapter .49, which in turn isthreaded on the neck of a conventional collapsible. tube such as shown in Fig. 6).

' What I claim is:-

l. A collapsible tube having a dome-shaped channeled nipple, said nipple having a cylindrical neck portion at its apex, and having an annularly grooved portion at the base 01' the nipple, and a snap-on cap having a dome-shaped chamber, said chamber having a cylindrical extension chamber coni'orming in shape with the shape or the aforesaid nipple and neck or the collapsible tube, and having an annular recess in said cap, and a split ring mounted in said recess and adapted to engage around the annular grooved base of the nipple.

2. In combination with the tube defined in claim 1, the chambered portion of the snap-on cap having its cylindrical extension or suillcient length to receive a cork sealing disc at the end or the cylindrical neck portion of the nipple.

3. A collapsible tube having a dome-like nipple and having an annular grooved portion at the base or the nipple, a snap-on cap having a chambered portion shaped to correspond with the shape of the nipple oi. the'collapsible tube and having an annular groove in said cap, having a split substantially hexagonal ring mounted in said annular groove and releasably engageable around the base 01' the nipple'otthe tube, the nipple having a cylindrical extended neck, and the cap having a cylindrical extended chamber to receive said neck whereby the snap-on cap1 will have to be pulled oil with a straight P 4. A collapsible tube having a dome-like nipple and an annular-1y grooved portion at the base or said nipple, a snap-on cap having a correspondingly shaped chamber, an annular grove in the chambered portion of the cap, I .plit ring mounted in said groove and adapted 1 engage the grooved portion at the base of e nipple oi the collapsible tube when the on I is applied, said ring having an offset portion at about the middle or the ring moulded solidly in the ring at this portion, the ends or the ring being spaced apart and outturned substantially as shown.

WALTER JOHN PETERS. 

